On Friday, December 26, at 8 pm, classically trained jazz pianist, Burnett Thompson will perform “Christmas in Vienna” in a concert that will showcase his skills as an improvisational jazz performer. His CD of the same name, features jazz renditions of classics like O Tannenbaum, Silent Night and Three Kings. Thompson has worked with conductor Mstislav Rostrpovich and also studied in Vienna from 1972 to 1975. This concert is drawn from those experiences. His CD’s will be for sale. The concert will be held at the Unitarian Universalist Church of Annapolis (UUCA), 333 Dubois Road. Tickets are $15 at the door. For more information visit www.uuannapolis.org/slider/fourth-friday or call 410-266-8044.

Classical pianist Brian Ganz has known Thompson for years and was thrilled that Thompson was available to perform this “Brian Ganz and Friends” concert the day after Christmas. “Burnett’s improvisations are miraculous. It is exciting when an artist sits down and the audience doesn’t know what it’s about to hear. But when the artist himself sits down not knowing what will come out and then begins to make astoundingly complex and compelling music, I call that a miracle!” Ganz said.

A Washington Post review said “It’s music designed for both the head and the heart–ordered and romantic, deliberate and impulsive, stately and swinging, cerebral and sentimental… there’s also something inherently whimsical about his approach to the piano, a kind of playful inquisitiveness that keeps the music fresh and surprising.”

Burnett Thompson is active as pianist, composer, educator, concert producer and makes Washington DC his home. He currently directs programming for Castleton in Performance, Piano in the White House, Jazz on Jackson Place, the Hill Center Concert Series, and Piano Jazz at the Arts Club. His musical focus spans all continents, including traditional music from Asia, South America, European classical and folk traditions, to American Jazz.

Mr. Thompson received his musical education at the Hochschule für Musik in Vienna, Austria, and the New England Conservatory of Music.

Burnett Thompson’s concert is part of the “Brian Ganz and Friends” series offered monthly to benefit the UUCA’s work. This program is the 10th in a year-long ticketed concert series on the 4th Friday at 8PM at the Unitarian Universalist Church of Annapolis (UUCA). Individual tickets are $15, and a five concert “series ticket” can be obtained at the door for $60. The next concert is January 22 with violinist Jose Cueto and pianist Nancy Roldan offering classical chamber music. Pianist Ganz will return to the stage on February 26 with a Chopin celebration. See www.uuannapolis.org/slider/fourth-friday for future programming.

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